eChapters

Models Definitions

In social science research a model is a tentative description of what a social process, say the communication process or a system might be like. It is a tool of explanation and analyses, very often in a diagrammatic form, to show how the various elements of a situation being studied relate to each other.

The term model can also refer to a particular process or object, which is used as a point of reference, when an attempt to explain the unknown is being made. It basically comprises involving an analogy to throw up the similarities between the phenomena to be explained and one, which is well known, i.e., the model.

The simplest definition of a model is that it is an analogue. A model is a relatively well-developed analogy. Given two objects or processes which are dissimilar in many respects, one is an analogue of the other to the extent that the physical or logical structure of one re-presents the physical or logical structure of the other.

The advantage of models in communication research is that it allows the researcher to account for different variables in different communication situations. Models only represent systems or processes. Since they are not real, they are just symbolic ways of looking at systems to help us to think about them more lucidly. Again since models do now show every part of a system, they are usually incomplete in that sense. Even those that are shown are represented only in enough detail to help us look at the processes or features in which we are interested. Models give us an idea of complicated objects or events in a general way. They enable us to see how a particular communication event fits into the general pattern. They provide a classification for an old problems, and familiar events. They help us by providing a structure of references for purposes of study. Theories are not models and the most fundamental difference between a theory and a model is that the former is an explanation whereas the latter is a representation.

1.1. Prologue

In present era, agriculture is a cause of global concern in the context of price volatility with a rising trend growing concerns for food security and resultant trade restrictions, global economic conditions in the recent past, the forecasted rate of reduction of growth of agricultural land over the next two decades, increasing mismatches between supply of agricultural products in relation to growing demand and the climatic changes which are wielding pressures on agricultural production. Thus, enhancing agriculture production and productivity have emerged as a global challenge. India, with 2.4 per cent of the world’s geographical area, is the largest producer of pulses, tea, and milk and second largest producer of fruits, vegetables, wheat, rice, groundnut and sugarcane in the world but supports about 16.2 per cent of the world’s population. Coupled with small scale land holdings and deep rooted poverty in rural areas, the magnitude and dimensions of challenges for agriculture policy-makers have increased manifold. So far as the agriculture sector in Odisha is concerned, it contributes only 15.6 percent in 2013-14 towards State Gross Domestic Product (SGDP), but provides employment and sustenance to more than 60 percent of the total workforce of the State. In this sense, the agriculture sector is still the mainstay of the economy of Odisha. According to the Economic Survey 2013-14 of Odisha, despite wide annual variations in its growth, the agriculture sector had grown at a rate of 12.72 per cent in 2012-13. However, a negative growth of 3.53 percent is anticipated during 2013-14 due to cyclonic storm Phailin and flash floods in the State in October 2013. The real per capita income of Odisha was Rs. 25,891 in 2013-14 which was around 65 per cent of All-India real per capita income of Rs.39, 961. According to the 68th round of National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO), the monthly per capita consumer expenditure (MPCE) for rural and urban Odisha is below the respective national averages. In the food and non-food consumption behaviour, an average Indian spends more than an average person in Odisha. In short, the above parameters pinpoint that the State of Odisha has been lagging behind the national economy & highlights the necessity of achieving higher growth on a sustainable manner across the sectors particularly the agriculture sector in order to uplift the society from underdevelopment & poverty. Though the contribution of agriculture to Net State Domestic Product (NSDP) has declined, the percentage of workforce engaged in agriculture has remained somewhat unchanged. This implies that there has been an overcrowding in agriculture without any noticeable increase in production.

This chapter has focused on providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of business communication strategies and techniques in the Indian agricultural context. The chapter has highlighted the importance of communication in business, the challenges faced by the agricultural sector in India, and the need for effective communication strategies to overcome these challenges. The chapter has also provided an overview of relevant communication theories and techniques and their application in the Indian agricultural context. Understanding business communication is critical to developing effective marketing, supply chain, and other business-related strategies in the Indian agricultural context, and this chapter has laid a strong foundation for the same.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted agribusiness communications, creating unprecedented challenges and opportunities for the sector. With restrictions on transportation, shortage of labor, and changes in consumer behavior, agribusinesses have had to adapt their communication strategies to remain operational and retain consumer trust. The objective of this chapter is to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on agribusiness communication and suggest effective communication strategies to overcome the challenges posed by this and similar crisis which might arise in the future.

Negotiation is a communication and problem-solving process built on a broad foundation of skills and knowledge. It is also one of the most popular and effective means of resolving conflicts and misunderstandings. Negotiation is back and forth communication designed to reach agreement while leaving the other side intact and positive.

Basic principle, without which negotiation is impossible

Successful negotiation requires compromise from both sides. Both parties must gain something, and both parties must lose something. You must be prepared to give something up to which you believe you are entitled. You cannot expect to defeat your opponent or “win” a negotiation by either the power of your negotiating skills or the compelling force of your logic. This is not to say that good negotiating ability is irrelevant. In most cases, a range of possible outcomes exists. A skilled negotiator often can achieve a settlement near the top of the range.

Introduction

Entrepreneurial and start-up firms share traits but also differ. It takes courage to start a new business, but not always with the latest technology. Founders of new companies, almost always based on new technology, take risks. Both types of firms must overcome limited resources and talent. Both entrepreneurs and start-ups seek to segment and expand markets. Starting a business involves risks, but start-ups face additional risks of innovation. (Rao, 2018).

The project is the very foundation of any business. As a result, the success or failure of a company is primarily determined by the project. In layman’s terms, a project is an idea or plan meant to be carried out. According to the dictionary, a project is a scheme, design, or proposal for something intended or devised to be accomplished. (MANAGE, 2013)

Beginners often wonder where to begin. Some options are obtaining power-water connections, pollution control clearance, approvals of weights and measures/drug control, and registration with sales and income tax departments. But, first, an entrepreneur must set priorities. (IGNOU, 2017).

Network in Project Management

A project network is a graph that shows the activities, duration, and inter dependencies of tasks within our project.

Networking is a crucial aspect of project management that can provide various benefits, including access to new job opportunities, industry insights, and professional development opportunities.

What is network with diagram?

A Brief History of Project Management.

12.1 Introduction

Technological advancements have completely changed human existence, bringing about profound societal shifts and stimulating the economy. Empowering women will have a good impact on women's daily lives and is essential to the growth of any society. Women now have many possibilities to showcase their creativity, ideas, and technological prowess both in India and around the world thanks to the advancements and inventions in the field of information technology. This review's main goal is to investigate how women use digital technology in urban and rural areas. India is rapidly digitizing, embracing all facets of technological advancement, and as a result, offering plenty of job prospects for women.To reduce the disparity between genders in technology fields in Indian society, women's involvement in these fields, both in rural and urban areas, must be the main focus.

2.1 Gender Analysis

Inequalities between men and women are becoming more visible and glaring particularly in developing countries of the world triggering serious concern over developed experts. UNESCO statistics reveals that women perform 75 per cent of work, earn 10 per cent of the income and own 1 per cent of property. The 3rd UN Millennium Development Goal (MDG) has called for gender equality and the components of women to battle poverty, hunger and disease and to restorative development that is precisely sustainable.

The Beijing Platform for Action (1995) very well support this fact in form of twelve objectives and action points viz., women and poverty, education and training for women, women and health, violence against women and armed conflicts, women and the economy, women in power and decision making, institutional mechanism for the development of women, human rights of women, women and media, women and environment, and the girl child. Prior to the above declaration there were First, Second and Third World Conference on Women at Mexico (1975), Copenhagen (1980) and Nairobi (1985), respectively.

The research setting provides specific details about the location where a study is conducted. This study area typically encompasses a particular geographical region, such as a state, district, block, or gram panchayat, chosen according to the research requirements. The researcher must have a thorough understanding of the locality, including its communication methods, in order to effectively access all parts of the region for data collection.

In social science research, a clear comprehension of the characteristics, attitudes, and behaviours of the individuals within the study area is essential. Without this understanding, accurately conceptualizing, perceiving, and interpreting data becomes challenging. To obtain a comprehensive understanding of the implications and behavioural intricacies of the local people representing a broader community in the referenced study area, researchers must have a solid grasp of these factors. Therefore, this chapter critically analyses the socio-demographic background of the residents in a rural setting.

The term “research setting” denotes the context in which research inputs and elements are absorbed, interacted with, and mutually contribute to the system’s overall performance.

The research setting is crucial because it shapes and influences the interactions of various factors and components. Therefore, conducting a study on how farmers perceive persuasive issues and other topics requires a local context that takes into account the unique natural environment, demographics, crop ecology, institutional framework, and socio-cultural factors. For example, when writing a paper about the social behaviour of chimpanzees, it is important to include details about the research setting. This may include information such as where the chimpanzees were studied (in the wild or in captivity), the number of chimpanzees that were observed, whether they were part of the same social group, the geographic location, the time of the study, the season/weather conditions, the availability of resources such as food, water, and shelter, and any environmental factors that were present. There are two types of research settings: macro and micro. The macro research setting encompasses the entire state, while the micro research setting focuses on specific districts, blocks, or village peripheries. The aim of this approach is to understand the study environment from broader perspectives using the state as a reference frame and the district and block profiles as units of in-depth analysis.

1. Introduction

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) has transformed the functioning of modern libraries in the 21st century. The applications of ICT to data, information and knowledge resources have given rise to data centers, digital libraries, and knowledge repositories. New software’s that are based on international standards have emerged to undertake a wide range of jobs that suit the requirements of individual libraries. Rapid advances in the application of ICT have given rise to ‘Open Standards and Open Source Software’s. Libraries can benefit a great deal now by using these standards and software, as during the last twenty five years only rich libraries could afford to use commercial software. As a result the transformation of libraries was not universal in India. Now with the advent of open source software, we are expecting many libraries are going to be modernized. This transformation is not going to be limited to libraries only but to users as well who belong to different disciplines and walks of life due to social networking which is emerging as a major activity of libraries around the world. Libraries

Statistics is a branch of science which deals with the collection, classification, description and interpretation of data obtained by conducting surveys and experiments. The essential purpose of it is to describe and draw valid inferences about numerical properties of populations” (Ferguson 1966). The experience in statistics application indicates that a single statistical method can be used in different research areas for dealing with different types of problems. Various possibilities which application of a statistical method provides in certain research areas should be considered as an adequate way of dealing with a problem of the research. However, it should be noted that statistics is not a method by which it is possible to solve all the problems in a research. Nachmias and Nachmias (2009) stated that there are basically two types of statistics which include descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics enable the researcher to summarize and organize data in an effective and meaningful way. It involves the use of tables, charts, graphs, mean, modes, median, standard scores and correlation to treat collected data. Inferential statistics is concerned with making inferences from a unit of a population. Inferential statistics is concerned with making inferences from a unit of a population. Inferential statistics allow the researcher to make decisions or inferences by interpreting data patterns. Researchers use inferential statistics to determine whether an expected pattern designated by the theory and hypotheses is actually found in the observations. To decide whether this hypothesis is true, researchers might survey the respondents and then use descriptive statistics to make comparison between these groups and would employ inferential statistics to determine whether the differences between the groups are significant or not.

Multivariate analysis is essentially the statistical process of simultaneously analyzing multiple independent variables with multiple dependent (outcome or criterion) variables using matrix algebra. During the last two or three decades, multivariate statistical analysis has become increasingly popular. The theory has made great progress, and with the rapid advances in computer technology, routine applications of multivariate statistical methods are implemented in several statistical software packages. The traditional approach to the teaching of multivariate statistical analysis, as exemplified by Anderson (1958), relies heavily on advanced matrix mathematics. On the other hand, Hury and Riedwyl (1988) suggest that it is possible to understand most of the basic ideas underlying multivariate statistical analysis without a mastery of such mathematics, provided that these are conveyed with the help of real data sets. In this chapter we propose a non-mathematical data-driven approach for teaching multivariate statistical methods to students. Despite this, we are mindful of the need for students to know some basic linear algebra and univariate statistical concepts. Such basic knowledge provides students with the foundation necessary for the application of the appropriate multivariate statistical procedures and for the interpretation of results.

8.1 Medicinal use of Bamboo in Cattle: The important parts of bans (Bambusa arundinacea) used are the leaf and stem, which contain choline, betain, nuclease, urease, cyanogenetic and glucoside. The leaf acts as an emmenagogue, stimulant, astringent, febrifuge, echbolic, and diuretic. It also acts against leprosy, tympany/bloat, diarrhea, retained placenta, threadworm, cough, and cold in horses. Flowering occurs once in ten to twelve years. The plant dries after flowering. (Parabia et al., 2000).

8.2 Medicinal uses of Dendrocalamus Strictus: The leaf and other parts of kaban (Dendrocalamus strictus), which contain siliceous matter, are used as astringent and ecbolics in animals. (Parabia et al., 2000).

8.3 Medicinal uses of Datura metel, D. alba, D. fastuosa: The leaf, root, fruit, and ripe seed of sadah datura (Datura metel) contain alkaloids such as hyoscyamine, hyoscine, atropine, scopalamine, allantoin, and vitamin C. They are used for treating insanity, fever with catarrh and cerebral complications, and the fruit is used to induce heat in animals and treat prolapse of uterus/ vagina. (Parabia et al., 2000).

8.4 Medicinal uses of Dalbergia Sissoo: The stem bark, root, leaf, and mucilage of sisam (Dalbergia sissoo) contain tannin, dalberginone, dalbergin, allylphenol of latitontype, 5,7,4-trihydroxy-s-methoxyisoflorone, and are used for leprosy, boils, eruptions, to allay vomiting, and the oil is used for cutaneous afflictions. Mucilage of leaves mixed with sweet oil is applied in excoriations. (Parabia et al., 2000).

8.5 Medicinal uses of Cyperus Rotundus: The tubers of motha mutha (Cyperus rotundus) have essential oils, myristic and stearic acid, unstable alkaloid, b-seilinne, cyperenone, and are used as diuretic, emmenagogue, anthelmintic, stimulant, tranquilizer, and antipyretic. (Parabia et al., 2000).

Introduction
Social sustainability has gained significant attention in the contemporary development, especially in information technology (IT). Social sustainability refers to the ability of a society to maintain and improve social well-being, equity, and quality of life for its present and future generations. It involves fostering an environment where all individuals, irrespective of their socioeconomic backgrounds, have equal access to resources, opportunities, and services. Information technology (IT) has emerged as a transformative tool in achieving social sustainability by addressing various social challenges such as inequality, lack of access to education, healthcare, and basic services. It also fosters community engagement, empowerment, and participation in governance.

Introduction
Information Technology (IT) has emerged as a cornerstone of modern economic, social, and environmental systems, pivotal in driving innovation and sustainabilit across various sectors. As the world grapples with the urgency of achieving sustainable development, IT offers powerful tools to monitor, analyze, and optimize resource use, reduce environmental footprints, and promote social and economic equity. However, measuring the impact of IT on sustainability requires a nuanced understanding of its diverse contributions, challenges, and longterm consequences. It is essential to assess how IT can simultaneously support environmental conservation, economic growth, and social well-being, often called the three pillars of sustainability.

Agriculture is the backbone of human civilization, providing food, fiber, and livelihoods for billions of people around the world. Crop yields, which are a critical component of agricultural productivity, are influenced by a complex array of factors, including genetics, soil quality, water availability, and management practices. However, among these factors, weather and climate stand out as two of the most significant drivers of crop yields.
Weather and climate are intimately linked, with weather referring to short-term atmospheric conditions, such as temperature, precipitation, and wind, and climate describing the long-term average atmospheric conditions in a particular region. Together, they form a dynamic duo that shapes the fate of crops, influencing their growth, development, and productivity.
The impact of weather and climate on crop yields is multifaceted. Weather events, such as droughts, floods, and heat waves, can have devastating effects on crops, leading to reduced yields, lower quality produce, and even complete crop failures. Climate, on the other hand, influences the overall growing conditions, determining the suitability of a region for specific crops and the timing of planting, growth, and harvest.
Understanding the complex interplay between weather, climate, and crop yields is crucial for ensuring food security, improving agricultural productivity, and promoting sustainable farming practices. This chapter aims to explore the intricate relationships between weather, climate, and crop yields, examining the ways in which these factors interact and influence each other. By delving into the latest research and findings, this chapter will provide insights into the following key topics:
The impact of weather events, such as extreme temperatures, precipitation, and wind, on crop yields
• The influence of climate on crop growth, development, and productivity
• The role of climate change in altering weather patterns and crop yields
• Strategies for mitigating the negative impacts of weather and climate on crop yields, such as climate-smart agriculture and weather-based crop insurance

Introduction 
India’s urban transition is among the most significant in the world, both in scale and complexity. With over 34% of the population residing in urban areas as of 2018 and projections indicating that nearly half the nation will be urban by 2047, the quality of urban governance will decisively shape India’s developmental trajectory (United Nations, 2018). Urban areas are expected to contribute over 70% of the GDP by 2030. However, cities face multifaceted governance challenges ranging from infrastructure deficits and environmental stress to inadequate service delivery and institutional fragmentation (NITI Aayog, 2021). In response, digital urban governance has emerged as a transformative paradigm, leveraging information and communication technologies (ICTs) to enable responsive, efficient, and inclusive urban administration. Digital technologies are increasingly embedded into urban governance structures and processes, from e-governance portals and grievance redressal apps to real-time traffic monitoring systems and digital financial tools. This shift is reflected in flagship national programmes such as Digital India, Smart Cities Mission, and the National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM), which aim to digitise public service delivery, enhance citizen engagement, and enable data-driven decision-making at scale (Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs [MoHUA], 2021; MeitY, 2015). At the heart of this transformation is the creation of robust digital infrastructure such as Integrated Command and Control Centres (ICCCs), city data platforms, and open APIs combined with evolving institutional frameworks that promote interoperability, decentralisation, and cooperative federalism (Kapur & Joshi, 2021; NIUA, 2023). The chapter explores the evolution and current landscape of digital urban governance in India by first outlining the conceptual underpinnings of urban governance and then transitioning into the digital domain. It analyses the role of urban digital infrastructure and the institutional architecture that supports it, highlighting the coordinated efforts under NUDM to build an open, interoperable, and citizen-centric digital ecosystem across India’s 4,400+ towns and cities (MoHUA & MeitY, 2021). Complementing this are the

The establishment of a technology transfer office is an important and complex process for an organization. It needs careful planning to ensure its long-term sustainability. Before establishing a TTO, it is essential to evaluate whether institution’s core mission includes research commercialization, and if the volume and quality of its research output justify the need for an inhouse TTO. For institutions that may not meet all criteria, those institutions can collaborate or outsource for TTO services. It is also important to decide about its operational scope, funding, management, and for what kind of issues the office should develop a policy. There is no “right” way to set up a TTO, but successful TTO does require considering some key issues. This chapter outlines key steps and considerations for establishing a TTO. It also explains what physical infrastructures are needed, manpower, outlines the responsibilities and powers of TTOs.
2.1 Evaluating the need for a TTO
Establishing a TTO is an important step for any research focused organization. But before initiating a planning process for a new TTO, the organization must review its relevance by considering a few fundamental points:
Key considerations for institutions
1. Is institution’s mission focused on “research commercialization” If an institute’s primary mission is education, or it does not support research it might not be justified to create a TTO. For such institutions, it usually makes better sense to seek alternative solutions to the occasional technology transfer without the expense of a formal office. But institutions with strong research commercialization focus, a TTO has the ability to contribute meaningfully to the mission. The Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), USA has identified following key motivations for initiating academic technology transfer:

The effectiveness of community mobilization efforts depends significantly on the quality of analysis and understanding that guides strategic planning and decision-making processes, requiring sophisticated tools and frameworks that can capture the complexity of community circumstances while providing actionable insights for collective action. The integration of systematic analysis tools with deep understanding of value systems creates powerful foundations for community mobilization that can navigate both technical challenges and cultural dynamics that influence success and sustainability of development initiatives. Analysis tools provide structured approaches to understanding community conditions, opportunities, and constraints while helping communities develop strategic perspectives that can inform effective action planning and resource allocation decisions. These tools transform complex information into accessible formats that can facilitate community dialogue and consensus-building while building local capacity

Farmer Producer Organizations represent a transformative institutional innovation in agricultural development that addresses the fundamental challenges of small-scale farming through collective action and cooperative enterprise development. These organizations emerge from the recognition that individual small farmers face insurmountable obstacles in accessing markets, obtaining fair prices, securing quality inputs, and achieving economies of scale necessary for sustainable agricultural livelihoods in increasingly competitive and globalized food systems. The concept of FPOs builds on the rich tradition of agricultural cooperation while adapting to contemporary market realities and policy frameworks that require formal institutional structures for accessing services, credit, and government support programs. FPOs represent a hybrid institutional form that combines the democratic governance and member ownership characteristics of traditional cooperatives with the business orientation and professional management capabilities of modern enterprises, creating organizations that can operate effectively in comp

Conflict represents an inevitable and potentially constructive dimension of community mobilization that emerges when individuals and groups with different interests, values, perspectives, or needs interact in pursuit of shared or competing goals. Rather than viewing conflict as purely destructive or problematic, effective community mobilization requires sophisticated understanding of conflict dynamics and skilled application of management strategies that can transform disagreements into opportunities for learning, innovation, and strengthened relationships that enhance collective capacity and democratic participation. The complexity of contemporary community challenges requires bringing together diverse stakeholders with varying backgrounds, experiences, priorities, and approaches to problem-solving, creating natural conditions for disagreement and tension that must be navigated skillfully to maintain group cohesion while harnessing the creative potential that emerges from diverse perspectives and approaches. Understa

Pre-training and fine-tuning constitute two fundamental stages in the development of modern Large Language Models. This chapter provides a comprehensive examination of how LLMs acquire general language capabilities through large-scale pre-training and subsequently adapt those capabilities to specific tasks through fine-tuning. Pre-training uses extensive unlabeled datasets and self-supervised learning objectives to develop representations of language, context and knowledge. The chapter discusses Transformer-based architectures, data preparation, cleaning, tokenization and the importance of high-quality training corpora. It then examines fine-tuning approaches including Supervised Fine-Tuning, Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback, Parameter-Efficient Fine-Tuning, LoRA, QLoRA, adapter tuning and soft prompting. Major challenges such as data quality, privacy, computational cost, catastrophic forgetting, overfitting, hallucination, bias and security vulnerabilities are addressed. The chapter also considers emerging approaches that allow models to adapt during inference and improve reasoning efficiency. Overall, it highlights the continuing need for training strategies that balance accuracy, adaptability, efficiency, safety

1. Introduction to Nepal and its Agriculture

1.1. Geography

Nepal is a country of enormous geographical diversity, and is situated in the southern slopes of the central Himalayas, which spreads over an area of 1,47,181 square kilometers. Sandwiched between India on three sides- east, west, and south – and China to the North, Nepal is a land-locked country (CBS,2003).
 
Geographically, the country is broadly divided into five roughly parallel east-west regions (ecological belts), which from north to south are known as High Mountains, Mountains, Hills, Siwaliks  and Tarai. With altitudes ranging from less than 100 m in the Tarai to 8,848 m in the High Mountains, there exist different climates and different types of farming systems within Nepal. As a result of these diversities, a wide variety of crops, vegetables and fruits are produced.
 
For administrative and developmental purposes, Nepal is divided  into 75 districts. Each district is further divided into Village Development Committees (VDCs) in rural areas and municipalities in urban areas. At present, there are 3,913 VDCs and 58 municipalities in Nepal.

1. OVERVIEW OF AGRICULTURAL SCENARIO AND EXTENSION SYSTEMS IN JAPAN

1.1. Japanese Agricultural Policy and its Short History

The modernization of Japan’s agriculture was started through mechanization such as cultivators, rice planting machines, tractors and combines in the 1960s. Mechanization led to a large decrease in hours spent on rice cultivation, and the redundant labor force moved from agriculture to the manufacturing industry. This movement resulted in the modernization of rice cultivation, high productivity and high income for farm households.

On the other hand, a decreased demand for rice caused by westernization of the diet, e.g. greater consumption of animal products, became a serious problem. The national government decided to regulate rice production, and the acreage of paddy fields equivalent to the excess rice production has been used to cultivate other plants since 1978. Nowadays, the permitted area for planting rice is about 60 per cent of the paddy fields, with the other 40 per cent used to cultivate other plants such as barley, soybean, buckwheat and so on.

The major focus of the study was to critically analyse the overall performance of Women Dairy Cooperative Societies (WDCS) in two districts of Odisha. The methodology used in carrying out investigation has been outlined in eight sections as mentioned below.

1. Selection of problem
2. Research design
3. Plan of work
4. Locale of the study
5. Sampling procedure

Abstract

Over the years, global climate change has negatively impacted the resources of western Himalayan region and the diversity of floral wealth has been endangered. The endangered livelihoods of agriculture based sector call for incorporating stress resistance by sustained effort that includes resort to infusion of new technologies. Biotechnology offers possible solutions to many of the intractable problems. Development and commercialization of transgenic crops have witnessed phenomenal growth in recent years. An array of traits viz. insect pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, abiotic stress tolerance, augmentation of nutritional qualities etc. have been targeted and successfully modified through plant genetic engineering. The global area of transgenic crops has seen a tremendous increase to attain 148 million hectares in 2010. Progress in understanding plant genome structure and function by high throughput characterization of genome, transcriptome, proteome and metabolome is providing new opportunities to deal with complex traits that result from interactions of a large number of genes. The other significant application of biotechnology in crop improvement has been “Marker Assisted Selection” (MAS). Development and integration of DNA based markers in the selection process has empowered the breeder to identify the desired genotypes without any interference of environmental effect or tissue specificity of expression. Cultivation of MAS derived crop varieties in the country bears testimony to the success of this technology.

Temperate horticulture in Himalayan States forms the backbone of states economy by providing livelihood to more than 10 million people and draws about 60% of its Gross Domestic product (GDP) from the surrounding ecological resources. Being an important sector it has been given priority in recent years through various developmental programmes to harness the vast potential of natural resources, the topography, soil, climate and horticulture crop diversity. The outburst in climate and over population have become a major concern challenging natural resources of the Himalayan region for sustainable development of agriculture and improving livelihood of the local inhabitants. Depleting natural resources and vagaries of weather are negatively affecting long-term sustainability of Himalayan agri-horti production system. In spite of several chal-lenges the horticulture in temperate region has made some progress. The area, production productivity, availability and export of horticulture products have increased manifolds leading to improvement in employment and farm income. But still the temperate fruit industry is far behind and is facing the problem of low productivity and high cost production due to lack of elite planting material, old and senile orchards, rainfed farming, lack of efficient water, nutrient and canopy management, high infestation of insect and pests, poor transport and communication coupled with weak post harvest infrastructure. The modern new high yielding varieties and technological interventions developed especially the high density plantations; canopy & pollination management; fertigation, INM and water harvesting; cost effective and eco-friendly protection technologies and post harvest management and value addition have shown great potential to revolutionize the horticulture sector to bring paradigm shift from existing low quality lower productivity sector to high quality-higher productivity sector. The farmers have an opportunity and can take the advantage of emerging technologies in temperate horticulture to improve their nutritional and livelihood security.

Northwestern Himalayan region is spread between 28°43^'-37°05^'N latitude and 72° 40^'-81°02^' E longitude covering an approximate area of 33 million ha. The major natural resources of western Himalayas are water, forests, floral, and faunal biodiversity. Although there is wide spectrum of farming systems diversity in the region, yet there are quite a few commonalities viz. crop diversity, including mixed cropping as well as crop rotation of subsistence nature rather than commercial nature of agriculture, maintenance of soil fertility through natural processes. The variability in agroclimatic conditions in the hilly regions of India due to geographical location and climatic conditions require micro planning for assuring sustainable agricultural production. Introduction of horticultural crops is more recent phenomenon and it has penetrated the traditional farming systems of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and central Himalayan region for commercial benefits than the local consumption. Climatic conditions are optimal for growth of many food, medicinal and other commercial crops and live stock occur in these hills and the need is to exploit these opportunities for economic upliftment of the region, without degradation of natural resource base, therefore a long term development approach for sustainable farming system in these hills must have an eye on conservation farming for developing various production systems since this is a highly fragile system. The agriculture including livestock continues to be the dominant sector despite the fact that the area is exposed to adverse and harsh geophysical and agri-silviculture conditions. Strategies by planting fodder trees or grasses in the waste/ degraded lands (representing 7.9, 9.8 and 11.5% of the geographical area in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand, respectively), is needed for enhancing the fodder production. In addition, farm spaces on terrace risers and improved crop production technology coupled with integration of agroforestry will help in bridging the gap between demand and supply of the fodder. The indigenous agroforestry systems such as homestead (kyaroo), plantation crop combinations, scattered trees on farm lands/field bunds and bamboo grove are practiced by the farming community. The land management operations are predominated by different indigenous agroforestry practices which have proven potential and hold promise in alleviating the poverty among rural masses of this hilly region. The agroforestry systems provide unique opportunity for integration of different components in the farming systems, which help to optimize the ecosystem functioning and better management of land, water, and biological resources. These systems need to be further improved with suitable technological interventions considering the local population need, so that the socioeconomic status of the farming communities uplifted. Experiences gained in managing natural resources through well-tested agroforestry systems have been shared in this chapter.

1. Introduction

With the fairly recent advent of inexpensive, rapid sequencing technologies that continue to improve sequencing efficiency and accuracy, many species of animals, plants, and microbes have annotated genomic information publicly available. It is important to use this genomic information for the identification and isolation of novel and superior alleles of important genes from gene pools of the organisms

Introduction

ICT may be defined as technologies that facilitate communication and the processing and transmission of information by electronic means. ICT is an acronym that stands for Information Communications Technology and refers to technologies that facilitate communication and the processing of information by electronic means and includes everything from radio and television to telephones (fixed and mobile), computers and the internet. Information and communication has become an increasingly powerful tool for improving the delivery of basic services and enhancing local development opportunities. Recent years have seen increases in the use of ICT in almost all spheres of rural life. Especially, the rural communities require information among others on supply of inputs, innovations, improved technologies, credit, market prices and competitors. Since the concepts, methods and applications involved in ICT are constantly evolving on an almost daily basis. It’s difficult to keep up with the changes - they happen so fast.

Abstract

In the past decade, many knowledge-centric mobile phone initiatives in Indian agriculture have emerged, either substituting or supporting extension services by providing farmers with access to agricultural information. These knowledge-centric mobile phone platforms have the potential to reach many farmers directly with timely and accessible content. But the content that these deliver has more relevance if it is localized and context specific, as this improves the value and actionability of the information, which can have important impacts on farm management. The localization of content is influenced by how the projects access, assess, apply, and deliver content.

SYNOPSIS

In all probability the ancient farmer’s market originated on the streets of villages and later on, on the streets of towns. The street food survived through decades and centuries and now it has assumed its new role in fulfilling the readymade food demand of the working people of mega cities. The street food has now more relevance to the growing urban population. With the lapse of time and migration people to the cities, the business and activities of street food got expanded in qualitative and quantitative terms worldwide.

ABSTRACT

Expert Systems could be incorporated into extension education programmes to assist in solving problems using knowledge gathered from experts. During the process of problem solving, the Expert System becomes a source of educational material for the user. Hypertext may be incorporated into an Expert System as a means of providing the user with additional information. A hypertext approach to system development involves attaching information to specific phrases used in the system. The form of attached information can be textual, graphical or procedural. The methodology of developing expert system consists of two parts viz., developing computer-based Expert System and testing its effectiveness. The first part includes selection of most relevant subject matter area and procedure used in the development of an Expert System. The second part deals with the research design and technique adopted to test the effectiveness of computer-based Expert System versus human expert.

We mean sustainable of agriculture as preservation of productivity of land for a long period. This requires deviation from present methods of cultivation. The deviation needs knowledge about ecological process. At present we mean agriculture in association with terms like, high-tech, bio-tech and info-tech. Our traditional farming system or conventional farming system essentially means sustainable agriculture.

1. INTRODUCTION

The paradigm of world’s livelihood is built on the basic foundation of natural resources which includes humans, plants, animals, soils and minerals, water and air. But the very livelihood of these resources are at stake because they are strongly linked and dependant on each other. And to add, the material resource namely ‘economy’ has invaded the tranquil habitat and life of the community of natural resources. Thus the present crisis is challenging livelihood of each of these natural resources whether it is human, plant or water or earth and the element of economy is interfering with the natural recourse of human depending on water and soil; and human, plant, animal together are depending on soil, water and air. But when the livelihood of soil, water and air is at stake how human, plant and animal can survive; hence the design of livelihood of world has the essential ingredients of all natural resources.

We humans are selfish and concerned about our livelihood security only and try to over-exploit other natural resources and assumed themselves as the master of all natural resources. Practically, there is war going on between and among natural resources. The world could be better if each natural resource has its own right with prospects to safeguard its livelihood and all resources together with better livelihood could offer the lively world.

2. UTILIZATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

We should underscore that none of the natural resources are in ‘plenty’ and that we should ‘economize’ on each natural resource to build together the world’s livelihood. The food security of humans can not be attained without plants and plant security can nor be achieved without soil and water and it is impossible to keep secured soil and water without economics of management.

In short, the livelihood security of humans is entirely dependant on all other natural resources coupled with the material resource economy. It is incumbent on us to initiate appropriate steps from gross root to policy levels to make the world better.

3.1. CENSUS AND SAMPLE SURVEYS

Census or Complete Enumeration

A survey, which includes every element of the population, is known as Census or the Method of Complete Enumeration. If certain agencies are interested in studying the total population of a country, they have to obtain information from all the households in rural and urban area.

The essential feature of this method is that this covers every individual unit in the entire population. We cannot select some and leave out others. We may be familiar with the Census of a country, which is carried out after a particular period like every ten years. A housetohouse enquiry is carried out, covering all households. Human demographic data on birth and death rates, literacy, workforce, life expectancy, size and composition of population, etc. are collected and published by a government agency.

9.1. INTRODUCTION

A data are generally voluminous, so they need to be put in a compact and presentable form. This chapter deals with presentation of data precisely so that the voluminous data collected could be made usable readily and are easily comprehended. There are generally three forms of presentation of data:

Textual or Descriptive presentation

Tabular presentation

Diagrammatic presentation

Appendix-'A'    :    Standard Operating Procedure for Administration
    
Appendix-'B'    :    Standard Operating Procedure for Individuals
    
Case Study    :    Assam Floods 2004
        :    Peerchu Lake - A Disaster

Introduction

Pulses are major and cheap sources of protein in Indian vegetarian diet, providing most of the essential amino acids. Pulses are mainly consumed in the form of dehusked split pulses (Dal); and have 15-24% proteins. Various types of pulses grown are pigeon pea, chickpea, black gram, green gram, lentil, etc. Pulses are consumed because of body building properties due to the presence of various amino acids. By-products of pulses like leaves, pod coats and bran are fed to animals in the form of dry fodder. Some pulse crops like gram, lobia, urd bean & moong bean are fed to animals as green fodder.

Introduction

Meat is a highly nutritious animal product relished by majority of the population in India. India produced around 6.2 million MT of meat in 2013 (FAOSTAT, 2013), standing at fifth position in world meat production and accounts for only 3 per cent of total meat production in the world (APEDA, 2017). Contribution of livestock sector to national economy in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) was 4.1 per cent in 2012-13 (Islam et al., 2016). The percentage of meat subjected to processing in India is only 1-2 per cent compared to 70 per cent in developed countries (Sen et al., 2013). Relatively higher proportion of poultry (7-8%) is converted into further processed poultry products. Major proportion of the meat produced in the country is derived from old and unproductive animals. Availability of spent birds is also on the rise due to the rapid growth in poultry industry. Meat from such animals and poultry has less desirable palatability attributes, especially tenderness, which makes it more suitable for processing into value added products. This will provide consumers with more acceptable, convenient, healthy and versatile products while simultaneously increasing the economic returns to the processor. The profitability of meat industry is critically dependent in deriving extra value from lower-value meat cuts. To achieve this, value must be added in the eyes of the consumer across the wide chain of value added products.

ABSTRACT

Coastal aquaculture in India is synonymous with shrimp culture since shrimp has a pronounced presence among the basket of commodities produced in the sector. In coastal aquaculture, maximum area is under shrimp culture due to its high profitability, ready marketability, premium price and unlimited export demand. Since the growth of shrimp has showed significant fluctuations in terms of area, production and productivity over time, this paper aims to seek and use appropriate methodology for computation of growth rates. Accordingly, the present study utilized nonparametric regression method for computation of growth rates. Results indicated that the methodology has been successful in extracting required information from the data set. The analysis revealed that growth of Indian shrimp farming is largely governed by east coast states. Potentiality of west coast states remains grossly underexploited. Broad results also indicate that growth rate is higher in commercial shrimp farming states compared to traditional farming states. Shrimp farming being a livelihood option for small and marginal farmers of the deprived sections of the population of a developing country, like India, consistent yield is more important than substantial growth in yield in shrimp farming.

For any research endeavor, perusal of available literature is of paramount importance. Such an effort will highlight the attempt made and provide a clear comprehension of similar studies. A search on earlier research studies revealed that only a few have concentrated on Multimedia, Interactive Multimedia and Information Technology (IT) in transfer of farm technology. The available concepts and literature are presented under the following sub-heads.

2.1 IT in Farm Technology

2.2 Interactive Multimedia in Farm Technology Transfer

2.3 Selection of Farm Technology

2.4 Effectiveness of Different Extension Teaching /Learning Methods

2.5 Effectiveness of Knowledge Gain

2.6 Effectiveness of Symbolic Adoption

2.7 Farmers Perception about Farm Technologies and Modes of presentation

2.8 Relationship of Characteristics of Farmers with their Knowledge and Symbolic Adoption.

1. OVERVIEW OF THE NATIONALAGRICULTURE SCENARIO - NATIONAL EXTENSION SYSTEMS, SCOPE AND IMPORTANCE

Like in many developing countries, Agriculture Sector being the backbone of the Sri Lankan economy, contributes significantly (11.3 per cent in the year 2007) to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and the economic growth by 7.7 per cent (Central Bank of Sri Lanka, 2007). As to the situation in 2007, 80 per cent of country’s population of 20.01 million is rural and 31.3 per cent of the total Sri Lankan work force is employed in Agriculture sector. Nearly 14.6 per cent of the population still depends on the agriculture as the main livelihood. The country’s GDP has been growing at 6.8 per cent per annum (in 2007), though that of agriculture is growing at only 3.3 per cent.

Country as a whole is constituted by 25 administrative districts all of which is encompassed into nine provinces. Of these, nearly four fifths are predominantly agricultural districts with over 60 per cent of the total population living in them. Majority of the population in these districts constitutes the farming community and they, by and large, are the ones who keep the nation feeding. Apart from plantation agriculture which looks after large scale plantation level crops like tea, rubber, coconut along with other crops like cinnamon, pepper, coffee, cloves, nutmeg etc., grown extensively for the export market, almost all other food crops are grown by farmers, majority of who own land plots less than 2 hectares. On the one hand, this makes agriculture mainstay of a major sector of the population and on the other hand they are spread nearly everywhere in the country rather thinly on the ground.

7.1. Rice

• Treatment of paddy seeds in diluted bio gas slurry for 12 hours increases resistance of seedlings to pests and diseases.
• During panicle formation in paddy, the flowers of Cycas circinalis are placed on sticks in paddy fields @ 4/ac. Its unpleasant odor repels ear head bugs.
• About 30 kg of tamarind seeds are applied for an acre of paddy field 1 day after transplanting to boost up the crop growth and yield.
• Soaking the paddy seeds in diluted cow’s urine before sowing, considerably reduces the incidence of leaf spot and rice blast
• Presoaking of paddy seeds in milk increases its resistance against ‘tungro’ virus and ‘stunt’ virus
• For control of red leaf spot disease in paddy, the seeds are soaked in ‘Pudina’ leaf extract (Mentha sativa) for 24 hours
• ‘T’ shaped bamboo stands are placed in many places in the paddy fields so that birds can sit on them and feed on the larvae and adults of rice pests.
• Sowing on eighteenth day (Aadipperukku) of Tamil month Aadi (Jul-Aug.) ensures good harvest.
• Daincha (Sesbania spp.) seeds are sown on paddy main fields when paddy nursery is raised and the grown up daincha is ploughed in-situ during field preparation.
• Plough the main field for four to six times for better yield.

Status of Women

As per 2011 Census, women account for 586.46 million, and represent 48.5% of India’s total population. However, from global perspectives, they constitute half of global population, and 1/3^rd labour force, but receive only 1/10^th of world income, and own less than 1% of world’s property. Further from national point of view as Reddy et al. (1994) in his study opined that “although women constitute 50 percent of India’s population, perform two-thirds of the work and produce 50 percent of food commodities consumed by the country and they earn only one-third of the remuneration and 10 percent of the property or wealth of the country.

The vast majority of working women are uneducated cultivators and agricultural labourers residing in villages. Most of the women, working on the family farm are unpaid labourers. 63 percent of all educated women with at least a high school certificate are unemployed, and of the 37 percent who are employed 15 percent are clerks, 5 percent teachers, 7 percent nurses and 10 percent are other professionals. Only 6 percent of Government employees are women (Jain, A.K. 2004). Rural Women form the most important productive work force in the economy of majority of the developing nations including India. Agriculture, the single largest production endeavour in India, contributing about 18% of GDP, is increasingly becoming a female activity. Agriculture sector employs 4/5th of all economically active women in the country. 48% of India’s self-employed farmers are women. There are 75 million women engaged in dairying as against 15 million men and 20 million in animal husbandry as compared to 1.5 million men.

Despite progress in several key indicators, a gender analysis demonstrates that women continue to be relatively disadvantaged in matters of survival, health, nutrition, literacy and productivity. Further, more than 90 percent of rural women are unskilled, restricting them to low paid occupations. Women generally have no control over land and other productive assets which largely exclude them from access to institutional credit. Further, agricultural wages for women, on an average 30-50 percent less than those for men. Though they work for longer hours under inhospitable conditions, their participation in decision making process is less than desirable.

It has been found that at the household level the health of female members in any family suffers to a large extent. It could be encountered to low health care, poor housing or/and environmental conditions. Due to malnutrition it affects the health to such an extent that it gives rise to many diseases. For a sustainable nutritional status food and various aspects of health needs attention. Looking into that, nutrition is directly related to the health status. For food and nutrition security it is vital to see the availability, accessibility and utilization of food. The World Food Programme (WFP) developed the Vulnerability Analysis and Mapping (VAM) project to analyse the vulnerability to food insecurity of target populations. A prominent part of VAM is related to food access. The demographic and Health Survey (DHS), funded by USAID, provides health data for many countries to help them design their national policy. FAO has developed the Global Information Early Warning System (GIEWS), which collects data related to temporary food insecurity. Under the leadership of WHO, several health surveillance systems have been developed and implemented to monitor the epidemiology of various forms of malnutrition and of selected diseases. At the meso or sub-national level, food market surveys provide data on the availability of food. Agricultural production surveys, intra-household food frequency interviews, immunization surveys and anthropometric surveys of children under five can be used to assess the availability, accessibility and utilization of food and its stability at micro level. Most common Food and Nutrition Security (FNS) indicators at different social and administrative levels depends on the supply and demand. To determine the national situation of food availability data on the production of different food commodities, fertility rate and the trends in internal population needs to be seen. Food prices and per capita food consumption are indicators for national food accessibility. The rates of stunting, wasting and underweight in children, low Body Mass Index (BMI) in adults and low birth weight are FNS impact indicators that designate the extent to which food is adequately being used, utilized and converted into a satisfactory national nutrition situation. Fluctuations and shortages of food availability or accessibility in food prices make the national FNS unstable. Sensitive indicators for accessibility of food are the prices in the market. The sewage disposal and diarrheal diseases (DD) rates affect food utilization.A temporal food and nutrition insecurity arises due to pre and post harvest food availability and accessibility along with low BMI.If the food is in shortage leading to the consumption of more wild foods indicates reduced food availability at household level. Also if the number of meals per day goes down and unemployment increases it indicates low food accessibility.Malnutrition indicators like wasting, goitre or anaemia among the household members show reduced food utilization at micro level. Finally, changes in pre-harvest food consumption practices are good indicators for temporal food insecurity.

2.1. Introduction

There are few studies on the performance and efficiency of Indian commodity derivatives market. Despite a considerable amount of empirical literature, there is no general consensus on whether or not the markets are efficient. As far as the role of futures contract in agricultural commodity is concerned, several studies have been attempted to examine their contribution towards agricultural development of any state and/or country. This chapter presents the review of existing literature on the concerned topic based on interrelationship among the spot and futures market in agricultural sector, role of futures market in discovering spot prices, futures market and commodity price volatility etc.